Interchangeable supporting structure



Marh 2,1926. 1,575,270

S. JANKOWSKY INTERCHANGEABLE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed April 6, 1925 I3 Sheets-sheaf 1 I 1511927229?- fimolz Janka 51 5 T i 4 aim/7 March 21926.

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S. JANKOWSKY INTERCHANGEABLE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed April 6 1925 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

1,575,270 PATENT OFFICE.

7 UNITED STATES.

' smon JANKQWSKY, on TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

Application filed April 6, i925. Serial No. 21,059.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON JANKOWSKY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Interchangeable Supporting Structures, ofwhich the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in interchangeable supportingstructures, and more particularly to interchangeable supporting fixturesfor use in window display devices or the like, although the inventionmay be applied to other uses, as will hereinafter appear.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple andconvenient system of interlocking and interchanging structure memberswhich are capable of being combined in a wide variety of relative positions, as for instance, in display fixtures for use in show cases orWindows, in which relatively light but substantial supporting structuresare desired, but which are capable of being readily re-arranged invarious forms and combinations to suit a wide variety of uses. Morespecifically, my improved system contemplates the provision of aplurality of metal pieces of substantially uniform thickness throughouttheir length and having interchangeable connection with each other. Theconnections are made by the mutual engagement of slots formed in thepieces, each of .said pieces being provided with a plurality of slotsarranged in various positions and at various angles thereon. In carryingout my invention I provide a master supporting piece having suitablemeans for attachment to a base, and one or more pieces adapted to beattached to said master piece to project laterally therefrom at varyingangles, Auxiliary pieces may also be provided for attachment to theprojecting pieces. I also provide connecting devices suitable forsecuring a shelf, such as a plate glass display rack, on the support,-ing structure formed of the pieces as above described.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the. accompanyingdrawings illustrating certain forms in which it may be embodied. In thedrawings,

Figure 1 is.,a' view showing one form in which my invention may beembodied, in which a master supporting piece is con nected to the walland a laterally projecting piece is shown as connectible thereto atvarying angles.

Figure 2 is a view showing a somewhat shorter master piece andillustrating the use of a laterally projecting piece for the purpose ofsupporting a shelf such as may be used' in a show-case display rack.Figure 3 is a sectional view of a supportlng structure similar to Figure2 but utilizing a different form of clamping means to secure the shelfuponthe support.

Figure 4 is another form of my invention as applied to a display deviceused in the corner of a plate glass window.

Figure 5 is a modified form somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 4but with a projecting member shown in an inclined position upon themaster supporting piece.

Figure 6 is another modified form of my invention in which the mastersupporting piece is arranged in a vertical and the laterally supportingpiece is especially adapted forsupporting a plate glass shelf at varyingangles with respect to the master supporting piece.

Figure 7 shows my invention as utilized invarious manners to avertically extending cylindrical master supporting piece, and

Figure 8 shows another form of'cylindrical supporting piece which isrotatably mounted on a vertically extending piece.

Referring now to details shown in the drawings, Figure 1 shows one formof the invention in which a master supporting piedlO comprises a pieceof flat bar material having the end portions 1111 offset from thecentral part 12 and secured'to a base 13 by suitable means, such asscrews 1 l14. Associated with this piece are one or more projectingpieces 15-15 made of bar stock of substantially the same cross sectionaldimensions as'the master piece 10 and connectible to thelatter by doubleslot connections of a special form. For example, the master piece 10 isprovided with a vertically extending slot 18, a pair of horizontallyextending slots 19'19 and inclined slots 20, 21, 22 and 23. All of theseslots are of the same width as the associated projecting pieces 15-15.

,Referring now to the projecting pieces. it will be seen that they arealso rovided with a plurality ofslots, in the form shown having anuprightslot 25 at ne end thereof and inclined slot 26 at the other endmay be provided, as for instance, inclined slots 27, 28 and a centrallydis osed vertical slot 29. All of the slots on the projecting piece 15are adapted to form a close fitt ng connection with any one of the coocrating slots on the master piece 10 above described, so that theprojecting piece 15 may bearranged in a large variet of positionslimited only by the number an arrangement of the slots on the respectivepieces. Furthermore, it will be understood that auxiliary pieces may beconnected in turn to the projecting members 15, as for instance, in theslots 28 or 29, thus making it possible to form a wide variety ofdisplay structures depending up- -on the particular requirements of thetrimmer. By providing a plurality of pieces with connecting slots atvarious angles it will be understood that practically an infinite numberof combinations may be constructed and in all cases a fi-im support isprovided by reason of the close fitting engagement of the double slotconnect ons so as to eliminate the necessity of any auxiliary supportingconnections besides the master supporting piece 10.

Figure 2 shows a simpler form of master piece 30 in which only threesupporting slots 31, 32 and 33 are formed, together with a relativelysimple projecting piece 35 having only one vertically extending slot 36at one end and an inclined slot 37 at the other end. In this form theprojecting piece 35 is shown as connected in horizontal position tosupport a shelf 39. A support- 1ng clamp is here provided for thepurpose of securing the edge of the shelf 39, this clamp being formed ofa piece of spring metal having one end 41 of sufiicient thickness to fitin the slot 37, the entire clamp being curved upwaidly and extendingover the top of the shelf 39 to secure the same under tension. Obviouslya plurality (if such clamps having varying shapes as required to suitthe particular position of the slot 37 may be provided.- For instance,as shown in F igure 3 another form of clamp 40 is provided consistin ofa substantially L'-shaped piece of which the lower part 41 fits in avertically disposed slot 37 opening upwardly adjacent the edge of theshelf 39*. In still another form of retain ing clamp shown in Figure 4,the clamp 40 is adapted to have a. vertically extending portion 41!fitting in a vertical slot 37 on the underside of the supporting piece15.

Figures 4 and .5 show a further modified form of master supportingmember 44 adapted to be connected to a clamp 45 for attachment to atension screw 46 of a sheet metal window frame member 47 of any suitableform. The master piece 44 in this instance is substantially curved andprovided at opposite ends with slots 48-48 fitting in slots 49-49 formedin the ends of arms show an auxiliary cross piece 55 connected by doubleslot connection of the necessary form intermediate the ends of the piece15, the ends of the piece 55 herein being provided with clamps 40 -40similar to the form of securing clamp shown in Figure 3 for the purposeof securing a shelf 56. In the form shown in Figure 5 the supportingpiece .15 is shown reversed end to end and connected to the master piece44 at an incline'd angle so as to be used for exhibiting 15-15 ofvarying lengths and provided dry goods, such as ties, which are drapeover the arms of the cross piece 55 shown. Figure 6sl1ows another formof master piece 60 which may be somewhat similar to the piece 10 shownin Figure 1 but secured in a vertical position. The projecting piece 61herein shown is of a spe ial form having a recessed upper edge adaptedfor fitting engagement with a s elf 62 secured between the shoulders6363 of the piece 61 and other shoulders 64-64 of. a connecting crossmember 65. The position of this projecting piece 61 may obviously berearranged at varying angles as desired, and furthermore it may beturned end to end so that the inclined slot'66 is engaged with themaster piece 60 instead of the upright slot 67 as indicated in brokenlines at the lower part of this figure. Figure 7 shows another form. ofmaster supporting piece which may connection with the projecting piece15-15 of the general form already described. In this instance it will beobserved that the members 15-15 may be connected at their ends in theslots 7 O70 formed at the upper periphery of the cylindrical supportingmember 71 and may also be supported at an angle thereto -by using aninclined slot such as an intermediate slot 72, in which case the member15 will assume the position indicated in dotted lines in this figure.

Figure 8 illustrates another modification of master piece which mayconsist of an annular member 81 provided with a pluralbe utilized in ityof slots 8282 and having a downwardly projecting hub 83 rotatablymounted in a socket 84 at the upper end of the su port 85.

In all of the forms shown it will be seen that the' same general typeofstructural pieces are provided, having uniform cross .sectional areaand provided with uniform slots for interchangeable connection with eachother. Furthermore, a master supporting piece is provided for connectionto a base, andone or more projecting pieces maybe connected thereto invarying angles, and may also be reversible end to end, or

utilization of spring, clamps fitting in the connecting slots.

lVhile I have shown and described certain forms and specific uses of minvention, it

will be obvious that man 0t er forms and uses thereof will be mani estto those skilled in the art and without departing from the scope of theinvention, and therefore I do not wish to be understood as: limitingmyself to the forms or uses shown and described, excepting as-defined inthe appended clalms.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an interchangeable structure system, a plurality of separatesupporting pieces comprising a master piece and one or more associatedpieces, all being of substantiallyother structural uniformcross-sectional area and provided with a plurality of uniform slotsarranged at vary n angles to afi'ord mutually interchangeab e doubleslotted connection of the pieces at varying angles with respect to each7 other, and clamping means for securing arts to said pieces com prisingspring 0 amping members having one end adapted to' fit in said slots andex-' Cal tend into tensional engagement with said structural parts.

2. In an interchangeable structure system, a plurality of supportingpieces comprisin a master iece and one or more associate pieces, a beingof substantially uniform cross-sectional area and provided with aplurality of uniform slots arranged at varying angles to affordinterchangeable double slotted connection ot the pieces at varying?angles with respect to each other, and clamping means for securing otherstructural parts to said pieces, comprising a series of spring clampingmembers having one end adapted to fit in said slots and extending atangles varying with the angles of said slots. a 3. In an interchangeablestructure system, a plurality of supporting pieces comprisin a masterpiece and one or more associate pieces, all beingof substantiallyuniform cross sectional area, said associated pieces having slotsadjacent opposite ends arranged at varying angles to the side edgethereof, whereby said pieces are reversible end to end to affordinterchangeable connection with said master piece at varying angles ofincidence, and clamping means for se- 1 curing other structural parts tosaid pieces,

comprising spring clam ing members having one end adapted to t in saidslots and extend into tens1onal engagement with said structural parts.

4. In an interchangeable structure system,

a plurality of supporting pieces comprisin a master place and one ormore associate pieces, all being of substantially uniform crosssectional area, said associated pieces having slots adjacent oppositeends arranged at varying angles to the side edge thereof, whereby saidend to end to afford interchangeable con nection with said master pieceat varying angles ofincidence, and clamping means for securing otherstructural parts to said pieces, comprising a series of spring clampingmembers having one end adapted to fit in said slots and extending atright angles varyin with the angles of said slots.

%'gned'at Tulsa, Okla., this 23rd dayof March, 1925.

SIMON JANKOWSKY.

pieces are reversible

